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This story was originally published by Arizona Luminaria.
Eight international students at Arizona State University have had their visas revoked amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts and a crackdown on students expressing their political views.
An ASU spokesperson confirmed Wednesday in an email to Arizona Luminaria that the students’ visas were revoked recently — in the first two days of April and in late March.
Little more is publicly known about who the students are or why their visas were revoked.
The ASU spokesperson wouldn’t comment on whether any of the students who had their visas revoked have been arrested.
“The only thing we can tell you at this time is that eight out of our 15,100 international students have had their visas revoked. These were not protest related,” the spokesperson wrote.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late last month that more than 300 visas, primarily student visas, have been recently revoked by the State Department.
“No one has a right to a visa. These are things that we decide,” Rubio said. “We deny visas every day, and we can revoke visas. If you have the power to deny, you have the power to revoke.”
The university spokesperson, repeatedly saying they couldn’t offer specifics, added that “none of the eight students I mentioned previously are from Latin American countries.”
“The letters I have seen do not contain any reason for the visa being revoked.”
Michael Kintscher, an ASU graduate student and president of United Campus Workers of Arizona, also confirmed that their international classmates are being targeted.
“The letters I have seen do not contain any reason for the visa being revoked,” they said.
Arizona Luminaria reached out to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that issues visas, as well as the State Department for comment. The news organization also asked for the students’ nationalities and why their visas were revoked.
Officials with the federal agencies did not immediately respond.
Citing student privacy protections, Mitch Zak, spokesperson for the University of Arizona, would not say whether any UA students have had their visas revoked.
“UA International Student Services and International Faculty/Scholar Services monitor immigration-related developments and provide students and scholars with updates to ensure they are informed and in compliance with federal regulations,” Zak added.
The UA has recommended that all international students carry a copy of their passport, their visas, and proof of their immigration status on them at all times.
The university also has a list of guidelines and resources about immigration enforcement available on its website. ASU offers similar advice and resources.
